Adding Cross Strips to Butcher Block Counter Top?

[Matt Schenker]

Good Morning,
I just completed the construction of a butcher block counter top. It's made of planks of 1.5"x1.5" hard maple, face glued. The hard part is done -- cutting, jointing, planing, and gluing up all the pieces!

Now I'm wondering about ways to add strength to the structure.

I've read somewhere about using "cross strips" on the underside of the butcher block. I was thinking of perhaps routing a 1" dado, then glue in a strip of hardwood.

Is this a good idea? Are there any drawbacks? If I do this, how deep should the strip go?

Thanks,
Matthew

PS: Yes, I'm taking a morning break from my Festool Forum...

[Rick Lizek]

It's plenty strong as it is. Anything cross grain is just trouble and unnecessary. Why some folks thing adding threaded rods is going to make it better is beyond me. As long as it's properly dry and evenly dry it will stay flat.
Why does it need to be stronger????

[Matt Schenker]

Rick,
Thanks for your post. This is my first time gluing up something this large, and I got worried.

I tested the off cuts for glue strength, and I could not break any of them along the glue lines, which I think is a good indicator.

Thanks again for your help.

Matthew